How can I Upgrade 2019 Windows Server Essentials Edition to 2019 Windows Server Standard Edition?

Question

I have installed on a server the version 2019 Windows Server Essentials.

I have reached over the maximum user quota that is 25 users limit. The adidional users above the 25 make the machine shutdown every 7 days and for a machine that is planned to stay on 24x7 it cause me some troubles.

I already have the MAK/Volume License for the Standard, and the Essentials is installed above the same type of license.

The questions are:

1- Can I perform the upgrade using the powershell DISM command to upgrade the version ESSENTIALS to the STANDARD?

2- This server is the main AD controller and have no other servers with AD roles on the forest. Do I have to reinstall the AD or have to raise another server just to migrate the forest and back it again to the server after the upgrade?

3- Do I have to reconfigure any other role that o have on the server or is it a trans parent upgrade such as happens on some linux distribuitions?

Thanks you all!

Answer 1

The much simpler / safer method would be to stand up a new one and migrate roles over to it.

The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 domain controller are that domain functional level needs to be 2008 or higher and older sysvol FRS replication needs to have been migrated to DFSR
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--